Host file write via compressor argument injection
Published Aug 21, 2026 · Updated Aug 21, 2026
Argument injection in Incus before 7.2.0 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary host files through backup creation. The compression_algorithm validator allowlists only the first shell-split token, while compressFile passes every remaining token as arguments to the selected compressor. An authenticated user able to write into an instance and create its backup can use zstd output options to overwrite a root-owned cron file and execute commands as root.
Summary
What happened
Argument injection in Incus before 7.2.0 allows remote authenticated users to write arbitrary host files through backup creation. The compression_algorithm validator allowlists only the first shell-split token, while compressFile passes every remaining token as arguments to the selected compressor. An authenticated user able to write into an instance and create its backup can use zstd output options to overwrite a root-owned cron file and execute commands as root.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-48755
- Published
- Aug 21, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 21, 2026
- Vendor
- Linux Containers
- Product
- Incus
- Classifications
- T1053.003
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 21, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=< 7.2.0
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Incus zstd backup-compression cron RCE PoCproof of concept · unverified
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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